Vocabulary
1. Provoke-(v)-to anger, enrage, exasperate, or vex, infuriate
ex.-The protesters provoked the policemen into a confrontation.
2. amateur-(n)- a person inexperienced or unskilled in a particular activity;
ex. Hunting lions is not for amateurs.
3. sinister-(adj)-threatening or suggesting evil or harm; ominous, evil or treacherous, esp in a mysterious way
ex.The Man wearing black robe gave the woman a sinister glance.
4. malevolent-(adj)-wishing evil or harm to another or others; showing ill will; ill-disposed; malicious
ex. His failures made him malevolent toward those who were successful.
5. preeminence-(n)-high status importance owing to marked superiority; Superiority to or notable above all others; outstanding.
ex. The restaurant is known for the preeminence of its seafood dishes
Over the past decade, the Philippines has been stung by a series of killings all reportedly provoked by karaoke versions of Frank Sinatra's "My Way". At least half a dozen people have been murdered after singing the tune at karaoke, according to the New York Times.
Local media call them the "My Way Killings", and they are occurring in some of the Philippines' thousands of karaoke-filled bars, cafés and restaurants. Someone gets up, clears his or her throat, and chooses My Way from a list of songs. The lyrics appear on a screen, the music begins to play - and the trouble begins.
"The trouble with My Way is that everyone knows it and everyone has an opinion," Rodolfo Gregorio, an amateur singer from General Santos, told the newspaper. Some performers get into fights with their critics. Some are rude, some jump forward in line, and some simply sing out of tune. "I used to like My Way but after all the trouble, I stopped singing it," Gregorio said. "You can get killed."
Manila resident Alisa Escanlar recalled an incident where her uncle, a police officer, was listening to a friend sing My Way, apparently the most remade song in history, at a local bar. When someone at another table began to laugh, Escanlar's uncle drew his revolver. The people fled, she explained - but Escanlar and her relatives have now banned the Sinatra song from their karaoke parties.
Stories like these have helped My Way to gain a sinister, even malevolent reputation. While some say the violence is simply a matter of statistics - the song is one of the favourites in a country prone to violence - others blame its boastful style. Paul Anka wrote the English lyrics with Sinatra in mind, and they reflect Old Blue Eyes' preeminence. A man, his song explains, must "say the things he truly feels and not the words of one who kneels".
Unfortunately, several people have "taken the blows" of "doing it my way". Not that My Way has pride of place. Karaoke-related violence has spanned the globe, from an attack in Seattle after a man sang Coldplay's "Yellow," to a Thai man who killed eight of his harmonising neighbours after their performance of John Denver's "Take Me Home Country Roads." Perhaps the real solution is singing lessons.
SOURCE: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=413191492069141&set=a.289245514463740.77512.289243791130579&type=1&theater
QUESTIONS
1. Are Karaoke/Videoke popular in your country? Do you go/sing in Karaoke Bars?
2. Do you know which song is the most popular when it comes to Karaoke singing?
3. According to the article what is the reason why Frank Sinatra"s "My Way" cause so much violence among "wannabe" singers?
4. How can Karaoke bar owners do to prevent this kind of violence?
5. Are there similar incidents of violence in your country?
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Prized pairs of shoe-lover Imelda in danger
Vocabulary Words
1. infamous-(adj)-having an extremely bad reputation; notorious
Ex. The royal family of Britain was furious after the infamous naked photos of Prince Harry and the topless pictures of Kate Middleton were published.
2. notorious-(adj)-Well-known for some bad or unfavourable quality, deed, etc; infamous
Ex.- The notorious criminal escaped from prison.
3. aggravated-(v)-to make worse or more severe; intensify, as anything evil, disorderly, or troublesome
Ex.- His illness was aggravated by the dirty water he drank.
4. meticulous-(adj)-taking or showing extreme care about minute details; precise; thorough
Ex. The old man is a meticulous craftsman.
5. astound-(v)-to overwhelm with amazement; astonish greatly; shock with wonder or surprise.
Ex. The Grand Canyon never ceases to amaze and astound me.
While former first lady Imelda Marcos' infamous jewelry collection is being eyed for exhibit, her equally notorious shoe collection is said to be falling into neglect.
A team of curators at the National Museum are trying to rescue some of the apparel the Marcoses left in the Malacañan Palace after the room where the items have been stored was swamped due to a leaking ceiling, an Associated Press report on Sunday said.
"There was termite infestation and mold in past years, and these were aggravated by last month's storm," the report quoted museum curator Orlando Abinion as saying.
Damaged items were part of over 150 boxes of the Marcoses' belongings transferred to the National Museum two years ago for safekeeping.
These include clothes strongman Ferdinand Marcos had worn in state occassions and some of his wife's shoe collection, which they left when they were forced into exile by the 1986 People Power Revolution.
"It's unfortunate because Imelda may have worn some of these clothes in major official events and as such have an important place in our history," Abinion said.
Imelda reportedly left over 1,200 shoes when she fled the Palace with her husband.
These are not part of the $2.24 billion worth of assets so far recovered by the Presidential Commission on Good Government, the report noted.
Earlier reports have meanwhile said PCGG is eyeing an exhibit of Imelda's massive jewelry collection, which are also being planned for auction.
Imelda Marcos claimed many of the shoes were gifts from Filipino shoemakers in local shoemakers in Marikina City, which in 2001 borrowed 800 of her shoes for a museum.
Dozens of pairs were damaged in a 2009 flood, however.
The surviving 765 pairs "still look remarkably new due to meticulous museum care, which includes displaying them in airtight and dust-free glass cabinets in an air-conditioned gallery, away from direct sunlight," the AP report said.
Imelda's shoes "never fail to astound people years after," the report quoted museum manager Jane Ballesteros as saying.
She added that most of the museum's daily 50 to 100 visitors ask if Imelda was able to wear all of the shoes.
"When I say, yes, look at the scratches on the soles, the next reaction is, 'Really?'" Ballesteros said.
SOURCE: http://ph.news.yahoo.com/prized-pairs-of-shoe-lover-imelda-in-danger.html
QUESTIONS
1. Do you know who Imelda Marcos is?
2. Do you think the Philippine Government should return the clothes and shoes to Imelda and her family?
3. In your opinion, can the clothes and shoes of Imelda Marcos be considered interesting enough to display in museums?
4. What can you say about the museum curators who were responsible for the neglect of these items?
1. infamous-(adj)-having an extremely bad reputation; notorious
Ex. The royal family of Britain was furious after the infamous naked photos of Prince Harry and the topless pictures of Kate Middleton were published.
2. notorious-(adj)-Well-known for some bad or unfavourable quality, deed, etc; infamous
Ex.- The notorious criminal escaped from prison.
3. aggravated-(v)-to make worse or more severe; intensify, as anything evil, disorderly, or troublesome
Ex.- His illness was aggravated by the dirty water he drank.
4. meticulous-(adj)-taking or showing extreme care about minute details; precise; thorough
Ex. The old man is a meticulous craftsman.
5. astound-(v)-to overwhelm with amazement; astonish greatly; shock with wonder or surprise.
Ex. The Grand Canyon never ceases to amaze and astound me.
While former first lady Imelda Marcos' infamous jewelry collection is being eyed for exhibit, her equally notorious shoe collection is said to be falling into neglect.
A team of curators at the National Museum are trying to rescue some of the apparel the Marcoses left in the Malacañan Palace after the room where the items have been stored was swamped due to a leaking ceiling, an Associated Press report on Sunday said.
"There was termite infestation and mold in past years, and these were aggravated by last month's storm," the report quoted museum curator Orlando Abinion as saying.
Damaged items were part of over 150 boxes of the Marcoses' belongings transferred to the National Museum two years ago for safekeeping.
These include clothes strongman Ferdinand Marcos had worn in state occassions and some of his wife's shoe collection, which they left when they were forced into exile by the 1986 People Power Revolution.
"It's unfortunate because Imelda may have worn some of these clothes in major official events and as such have an important place in our history," Abinion said.
Imelda reportedly left over 1,200 shoes when she fled the Palace with her husband.
These are not part of the $2.24 billion worth of assets so far recovered by the Presidential Commission on Good Government, the report noted.
Earlier reports have meanwhile said PCGG is eyeing an exhibit of Imelda's massive jewelry collection, which are also being planned for auction.
Imelda Marcos claimed many of the shoes were gifts from Filipino shoemakers in local shoemakers in Marikina City, which in 2001 borrowed 800 of her shoes for a museum.
Dozens of pairs were damaged in a 2009 flood, however.
The surviving 765 pairs "still look remarkably new due to meticulous museum care, which includes displaying them in airtight and dust-free glass cabinets in an air-conditioned gallery, away from direct sunlight," the AP report said.
Imelda's shoes "never fail to astound people years after," the report quoted museum manager Jane Ballesteros as saying.
She added that most of the museum's daily 50 to 100 visitors ask if Imelda was able to wear all of the shoes.
"When I say, yes, look at the scratches on the soles, the next reaction is, 'Really?'" Ballesteros said.
SOURCE: http://ph.news.yahoo.com/prized-pairs-of-shoe-lover-imelda-in-danger.html
QUESTIONS
1. Do you know who Imelda Marcos is?
2. Do you think the Philippine Government should return the clothes and shoes to Imelda and her family?
3. In your opinion, can the clothes and shoes of Imelda Marcos be considered interesting enough to display in museums?
4. What can you say about the museum curators who were responsible for the neglect of these items?
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Filipino street kid, 13, wins $100,000 peace prize
Vocabulary
1. prestigious-(adj)-having a high reputation; honored; esteemed
ex. He graduated from a very prestigious University
2. parcels-(n)-an object, article, container, or quantity of something wrapped or packed up; small package; bundle.
ex. The parcel was delivered at his doorstep.
3. destitute-(adj)-without means of subsistence; lacking food, clothing, and shelter; dirt poor
ex. The government has set aside healthcare funds for the destitutes and the homeless.
4. initiator-(n)-a person or thing that initiates or starts something.
ex. The senior students were the initiators of the tree-planting project.
5. icon-(n)-A person or thing regarded as a representative symbol of something
ex. Madonna is already considered as an icon in the music industry.
A young Filipino who lived off a rubbish dump and slept in an open tomb has won a prestigious children's award in the Netherlands for his work to improve the rights of his fellow street kids.
Cris "Kesz" Valdez, aged 13, was handed this year's International Children's Peace Prize at a glittering ceremony in The Hague on Wednesday, where he received a 100,000 euro ($130,000) prize.
Valdez was chosen from three finalists for the work of his "Championing Community Children" charity which raises funds to hand out gift parcels to needy children in Cavite City, about 30 kilometres (18 miles) south of the capital Manila.
"You are wonderful," Nobel Peace laureate Desmond Tutu, who handed over this year's prize, told Valdez at a press conference shortly after the ceremony, held in The Hague's historic Knight's Hall.
"My message to children around the world is not to lose hope" and to remember things like hygiene, said Valdez, who added that the prize would help him get an education and perhaps realise his dream of becoming a doctor.
Through his charity, Valdez has handed out more than 5,000 gifts to destitute children that included everyday articles like flip-flops, toys, sweets and clothes, said the KidsRights Foundation, the prize's initiator.
In all, he has helped some 10,000 children in his area on health, hygiene and children's rights, the foundation added.
Some 246,000 street children are, like Valdez was as a young child, subjected to abuse, violence and child labour in the Philippines, it said.
Asked about the prize money, KidsRights Foundation chairman Marc Dullaert said a committee was now to decide, together with Valdez, to which projects it would be donated.
Archbishop Tutu, the South African peace icon who won the 1984 Nobel Peace Prize is in the Netherlands for a nine-day visit.
Source: http://ph.news.yahoo.com/filipino-street-kid-13-wins-100-000-peace-181545820.html
Questions
1. What do you think of this 13 year old boy's achievement?
2. Are there young boys and girls in your country who are involved in charities?
3. What do you think could be the positive result of this award for the other street children in the Philippines?
4. Do you think this achievement would be an inspiration to other people not only in the Philippines but in other countries as well?
5. What should the Government officials do to help in this charity's goal?
1. prestigious-(adj)-having a high reputation; honored; esteemed
ex. He graduated from a very prestigious University
2. parcels-(n)-an object, article, container, or quantity of something wrapped or packed up; small package; bundle.
ex. The parcel was delivered at his doorstep.
3. destitute-(adj)-without means of subsistence; lacking food, clothing, and shelter; dirt poor
ex. The government has set aside healthcare funds for the destitutes and the homeless.
4. initiator-(n)-a person or thing that initiates or starts something.
ex. The senior students were the initiators of the tree-planting project.
5. icon-(n)-A person or thing regarded as a representative symbol of something
ex. Madonna is already considered as an icon in the music industry.
A young Filipino who lived off a rubbish dump and slept in an open tomb has won a prestigious children's award in the Netherlands for his work to improve the rights of his fellow street kids.
Cris "Kesz" Valdez, aged 13, was handed this year's International Children's Peace Prize at a glittering ceremony in The Hague on Wednesday, where he received a 100,000 euro ($130,000) prize.
Valdez was chosen from three finalists for the work of his "Championing Community Children" charity which raises funds to hand out gift parcels to needy children in Cavite City, about 30 kilometres (18 miles) south of the capital Manila.
"You are wonderful," Nobel Peace laureate Desmond Tutu, who handed over this year's prize, told Valdez at a press conference shortly after the ceremony, held in The Hague's historic Knight's Hall.
"My message to children around the world is not to lose hope" and to remember things like hygiene, said Valdez, who added that the prize would help him get an education and perhaps realise his dream of becoming a doctor.
Through his charity, Valdez has handed out more than 5,000 gifts to destitute children that included everyday articles like flip-flops, toys, sweets and clothes, said the KidsRights Foundation, the prize's initiator.
In all, he has helped some 10,000 children in his area on health, hygiene and children's rights, the foundation added.
Some 246,000 street children are, like Valdez was as a young child, subjected to abuse, violence and child labour in the Philippines, it said.
Asked about the prize money, KidsRights Foundation chairman Marc Dullaert said a committee was now to decide, together with Valdez, to which projects it would be donated.
Archbishop Tutu, the South African peace icon who won the 1984 Nobel Peace Prize is in the Netherlands for a nine-day visit.
Source: http://ph.news.yahoo.com/filipino-street-kid-13-wins-100-000-peace-181545820.html
Questions
1. What do you think of this 13 year old boy's achievement?
2. Are there young boys and girls in your country who are involved in charities?
3. What do you think could be the positive result of this award for the other street children in the Philippines?
4. Do you think this achievement would be an inspiration to other people not only in the Philippines but in other countries as well?
5. What should the Government officials do to help in this charity's goal?
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